The Commonwealth was the republican government which ruled first England and then the whole of Britain and Ireland during 1649 - 1653 and 1659 - 1660. The term is also loosely used to describe the system of government during the whole of 1649 - 1660, the years of the Interregnum[?], although during 1653 - 1659, the government is properly called The Protectorate and took the form of direct personal rule by Oliver Cromwell, the Lord Protector.
... the novel opens, Stiva's friend Levin has returned Moscow from his country estate with the intention of proposing to Kitty. He first meets Stiva wh ...